Oliver Twist dares to ask for more in the Ivoryton Playhouse production of Oliver!

Bringing vividly to life Dickens’ timeless characters with its ever-popular story of the boy who asked for more, Lionel Bart’s sensational score includes Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, I’d Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah, As Long As He Needs Me and many more.

Tyler Felson (Oliver) is really excited to be making his Ivoryton Playhouse debut in his favorite role! He has performed the role of Oliver once before with Backstage Players Company. Past favorite roles include Oliver in Oliver!, Winthrop in The Music Man, Randolph in Bye Bye Birdie, and Mayor of Munchkin City The Wizard of Oz. Tyler recently was in his first film, portraying Young Vincent in My Brother Jack.

Michael Cartwright (Mr. Bumble) is very happy to return to the Ivoryton Playhouse where he has performed as Senex in Forum, The Duke in Big River, Joe Boyd in Damn Yankees, 1776, The Mikado, and Anything Goes. Most recently, he was Sam in A Full Life at the Emerging Artists Theatre’s New Works Festival in NYC and The Proprietor in Assassins with Newington Mainstage. Mike has worked at a variety of theatres including Goodspeed, Delaware Theatre Co., Arden Theatre Co., River Rep, Delaware Children’s Theatre, Downtown Children’s Theatre, Saybrook Stage Company, Spirit of Broadway, and Opera Delaware. He co-founded (with his wife Lori) the CT Yuletide Carolers (http://www.ctyuletide.com/) who sing throughout New England during the Christmas holidays. A graduate of the International Cabaret Conference at Yale University he made his NYC cabaret debut at Don’t Tell Mama and is readying his cabaret The Sherman Brothers: Disney Songs and Beyond for a September run in Killingworth.

Maureen Pollard (Widow Corney) is thrilled and excited to be here on the Ivoryton stage with this very talented cast! When not on stage Moe resides in Lisbon and works as a nurse for the Dept of Mental Health and addictive services in Norwich. Some of her past favorite roles include: Mame in Mame, Judy Denmark in RUTHLESS , Mama Rose in Gypsy, Cat in the Hat in Suessical and Regina in A Hundred Years Into The Heart. All her love goes out to her BEST production her daughter Stephanie!!!

Sam Schrader (Noah Claypole) is elated to return to Ivoryton Playhouse after his debut in Hairspray earlier this summer! Favorite past roles include: Corny Collins in Hairspray, u/s for the Scarecrow and Tinman in The Wizard of Oz (national tour), Chip in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,
Audrey II / “The Plant” in Little Shop of Horrors, and Tony in West Side Story (The Bushnell, Hartford CT). http://samschrader.weebly.com/

Robert Boardman * (Mr. Sowerberry/Dr. Grimwig) is tickled to return to Ivoryton Playhouse, having played here previously as the altruistic Boris Karloff look-­alike in Arsenic And Old Lace and the father in Brighton Beach Memoirs. This spring he appeared in M. Butterfly at Northern Stage, Vt. He has worked extensively in regional theatre, national tours and off­‐Broadway. Film and TV appearances include; One Crazy Summer, Space Age, One Life To Live and A Doll House. Thank You Jacqui, Bruce and all.

Tara Michelle Gesling* (Mrs. Sowerberry) is thrilled to be returning to the Ivoryton Playhouse! Tara was last seen here at the playhouse as Velma in our last production Hairspray… Other Ivoryton credits include The Mikado, Mystery of Edwin Drood and Damn Yankees! Some of Tara’s recent roles have been Mame in Mame, Ulla in The Producers, Pattie in Smokey Joes, Catherine in Pippin, Emma Borden in Lizbeth theopera, and Mayzie in Seussical! In her free time Tara likes to partake in and teach intense bootcamp and ninja classes, and practices all forms of yoga. Tara is a newly wed, and is forever grateful for the unconditional love and support of her husband Chris and Bug (their dog).

Chloe Michelle Kounadis (Charlotte) is thrilled to be making her Ivoryton Playhouse debut! She is a sophomore musical theatre major at the Hartt School. Originally from Framingham, MA. Her favorite credits include: Anita in West Side Story, Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical, and Ti Moune in Once on This Island (Edinburgh Fringe Festival). Thank you to my parents, sister, grandparents, teachers, D&W, Terri and Jack.

Nathan J. Russo (The Artful Dodger) is thrilled to be making his acting debut with the Playhouse in Oliver! Until now, Nathan has performed in local school productions such as Valley Regional’s Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang (Youth Ensemble) , John Winthrop’s Suessical (Mayor of Whoville) and with Connecticut Children’s Theatre. Nathan enjoys traveling, Anime multimedia, reading, swimming, and singing. Nate would like to thank his family, his friends, and his performing arts teachers: Laura Traver, Frank Calamaro, Megan Sirimongkhoune, and Patty Carver.

Neal Mayer* (Fagin) is happy to be spending the summer at the Ivoryton Playhouse where he just played Wilbur in Hairspray. He also portrayed Dale Harding in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest during the 2010 Ivoryton season. Earlier this year, Neal played Malvolio in Twelfth Night at the Schoolhouse Theater where he had previously been seen in The Sisters Rosensweig, Biography, The Imaginary Invalid, and Laughter on the 23rd Floor. New York credits include the Broadway Company of Les Misérables, and off-Broadway productions of Forbidden Broadway, Bush is Bad (CD), Plaisir D’Amour, and A Man for All Seasons. Neal has toured the country with Jerry Zaks’ production of 101 Dalmatians and has worked at such theaters as Goodspeed, Arena Stage, North Shore Music Theatre, Weston Playhouse, Skylight Opera, and Hartford’s Bushnell. Neal is proud to have recently been featured in three comedy sketches on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Kimberly Morgan* (Nancy) from Taylor, Mississippi appeared last at the Ivoryton Playhouse as one of the Dynamites in Hairspray. In addition to her MFA from the University of Southern Mississippi, she taught music at the Madison Shannon Palmer High School in the Mississippi Delta. Kimberly was the second African American to capture the title as Miss Mississippi in 2007 in the 55 Year Celebration of the pageant’s history. She was a finalist in the 2008 Miss America Pageant. Recent credits include Sarah in Ragtime, Brenda in Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Bess in Porgy and Bess, Belise in Moliere’s The Learned Ladies, Dr. Gilbert/Diane in The Sweetest Swing in Baseball, Rose in August Wilson’s Fences, and The First Narrator in The Grapes of Wrath.

Casey McKeon (Charles Bates) is 16 years old and a student at Valley Regional High School and this is his first time in a production at the Ivoryton Playhouse. He is very excited to get to be in this production of Oliver. Other roles that he has played in the past are Barrett in Titanic the musical, Troy Bolton in High School Musical2, and Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie. He is currently a junior at Valley Regional and plans to Study Music and Musical Theater while at Valley and continue Studying Music and Music Theater in college. Recently VRHS production of Titanic was awarded best high school musical in CT. This was a huge honor and one of the first monumental moments in my acting career

Viktoria Chiappa (Bet) is excited to be back at the Playhouse, where she performed in her very first show, years and years ago. Since then she has played numerous fun and exciting roles. Her favorites are; The March Hare in Alice in Wonderland, Polly Pepper in Charleston, Mother Meg in Robin Hood, Elsa U/S in The Sound of Music, Boris in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Alice Beane in Titanic. Tori was recently nominated as Best Supporting Actress, in the Connecticut High School Musical Theatre Awards, for her role as Alice Beane. Tori is also an elite level figure skater and will travel to Croatia in the fall for her second Junior grand prix. She is also beginning her studies at CCSU this year, in Theatre Education.

Maggie McGlone Jennings (Old Sally) has been privileged to work in theatre as an actress, a director, and a choreographer for most of her life. Recently, she portrayed the title role in the independent film-Rose, and has acted in productions for Margreta Stage, Saybrook Stage at The Kate, Chester Meeting House Players, and Ivoryton Playhouse, where she also directed Woman In Black and Last Of The Red Hot Lovers and will direct the November production of The Kitchen Witches. She sends her love to her five grandchildren and is especially proud to perform in Oliver! with her grandson Luke.

T.J. Mannix* (Bill Sykes) spent much of last year on tour with Chicago’s The Second City, and spent his holidays in a fat suit, surrounded by Rockettes, in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. T.J. is proud to defy his high school guidance counselors by making a living as an actor, voice over artist, teacher, and acting coach in NYC. He has appeared in more than 60 TV and radio commercials – along with roles on Law and Order, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, All My Children, One Life toLive, As the World Turns, and numerous appearances on Late Night withConan O’Brien. He fell hard for comedy improv after studying with Amy Poehler and is a veteran of the NYC comedy scene, creating fully improvised musicals on-the-spot every week with “Atticus”. T.J. is also the founder and producer of the 4th annual New York Musical Improv Festival www.NYMIF.com. T.J. has played everything from murderers, villains, and psychopaths to Bert Lahr, Santa Claus, and a Mouseketeer. Although he will probably be remembered most for his very mature 12 year-old Tevye in Fiddler onthe Roof. Proud member of Actor’s Equity.

Emily Ide (Mrs. Bedwin) is excited to be back at the Ivoryton Playhouse after performing in the ensemble of Finian’s Rainbow. Other credits include Swing! Swing! Swing! (Principal Singer/Dancer) at the Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, CT; A Year with Frog and Toad (Bird/Mouse) and Lilli’s Purple Plastic Purse (Grammy/FBI Agent) at the Summer Theatre of New Canaan in New Canaan, CT; Thoroughly Modern Millie (Mrs. Meers) at NYU/CAP21; My Sweet Edible You!, an original jazz cabaret performed at Joe’s Pub (Principal Singer); Urinetown (Josephine Strong) at NYU Tisch; Assassins (Ensemble) at NYU/CAP21; and Rainbow Valley (Mrs. Alec Davis) at the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Workshop.

Larry Lewis (Mr. Brownlow) is pleased to return to the Ivoryton Playhouse, last appearing as a featured actor in last year’s 100th Anniversary Gala Event. Other Playhouse productions include Senator Rawkins in the 2010 production of Finian’s Rainbow, HC in the 2008 production of The Rainkmaker, and Herbie in the 2006 production of Gypsy. Others include Major Markinson in A Few Good Men, Virgil Blessing in Bus Stop, John Hancock in 1776, and the ensemble of Robber Bride Groom. Regional credits include Harrison Howell in the Colonial Theater’s production of Kiss Me Kate, Dillard in the Marterre Theater Company’s production of Foxfire at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, and as Jake in the Majestic Rose production of Jake’sWomen.

Fagin’s Gang:

Zachary Goldsmith is excited to be performing in his first stage production at Ivoryton Playhouse. Zachary is no stranger to the CT stage appearing in productions through Warner Theater, Thomaston Opera House, Hartford Children’s Theater and other local playhouses. When Zach is not on the stage, he continues to sing and loves to read.

Lucian Parker Jennings is nine years old, and lives in Vermont. He is excited to be performing at the Ivoryton Playhouse where his grandmother, Margaret M. Jennings, has been performing and directing at since 2008. Living away from home during the Oliver run has reminded Luke how much he really DOES love his sister Jackie and two brothers Alex and Taylor.

Paige Kelly is nine years old and lives in East Lyme, CT. Paige has been singing, dancing and acting since she was four years old. She has performed in numerous shows with Broadway Kids and Company, most recently playing Jack in Into the Woods, Jr. Other shows include Crazy For You (ensemble), Annie (Molly), The Music Man (Winthrop Paroo), and Hairspray (Jr. ensemble). Paige is excited to be performing at the Ivoryton Playhouse and is thrilled to be part of the Oliver cast. She would like to thank her family, friends and Miss Kristin for their support. Enjoy the show!

Addison Marchese is 9 years old and is over- the- top excited to be a part of Oliver! This will be Addison’s third performance at the Ivoryton Playhouse where she has learned so much from so many talented people. She has performed as an acrobat in Barnum and as Sammie in Home for the Holidays. She has also performed as the boy, in the CT Children’s Theater summer production of The Velveteen Rabbit, as Lucky in the Madhatters theater production of 101 Dalmations and most recently, Addison performed as Cinderella in the Madhatters Theater production of Cinderella the Musical. Along with performing, Addison enjoys playing piano, and is a competitive gymnast.

Spencer Stanley is 9 years old and is thrilled to be part of his first Ivoryton Playhouse production!. He made his stage debut in Stonington High Drama’s production of Music Man when he was only four years old. He also performed in SHS’s award winning productions of Sound of Music, Carousel and Seussical. Other performances include Bye Bye Birdie and The King and I for Colchester Community Theater. Last summer Spencer played Young Cain in the East Lyme Regional Theater production of Children of Eden. He enjoys playing the piano and drums, singing and playing football.

Carson Waldron is thrilled to be back on the Ivoryton Playhouse stage. He made his debut last December as Tucker in Home for the Holidays. He most recently played Prince Charming in the Mad Hatters Theater Company’s production of Cinderella the Musical. Carson is 10 years old and lives in Westbrook. Besides acting he loves to play soccer and read.

Mason Waldron is so excited to be making his first appearance on the Ivoryton Playhouse stage! Mason is 9 years old and lives in Westbrook. Mason plays baseball and soccer. He most recently played the Grand Duke in the Mad Hatters Theater Company’s production of Cinderella the Musical.

Male Ensemble:

Moses Beckett is very excited to be returning to tIvoryton Playhouse after last being seen as Gilbert in Hairspray. When not on stage, Moses enjoys working as an Attorney. Past credits include Legally Blonde (Emmett), Into The Woods (Jack), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Ensemble) among others.

Scott Caron is ecstatic to be making his Ivoryton Playhouse debut! Hartt School: Time After Time: A New Musical, Summer of ’42, Oklahoma!, Pippin, How to Succeed…, The Taming of The Shrew, Henry V. Monomoy Theatre: Man of La Mancha, The Comedy of Errors, Sherlock Holmes, I Remember Mama, The Imaginary Invalid, Born Yesterday. Greater Ocean City Theatre Company: Crazy For You, Broadway on the Boardwalk (with Annie Golden). Playhouse on Park: Company, Equus. Goodspeed Musicals: Not Wanted On The Voyage (staged reading). Recent Hartt School graduate!

George Lombardo was last seen here as Cheswick in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. His debut performance for the Ivoryton Playhouse foundation was in “drag” as the Old Lady in the Shoe in the Christmas musical, Toyland. George has performed with many professional and non-professional theaters throughout Connecticut, including The Connecticut Cabaret Theatre, River Rep, Clockwork Repertory and Spirit of Broadway Theatre. He has played such diverse roles as Sancho in Man of La Mancha, Sam Byck in Assassins, Sister Amnesia in Nunsense Amen, Horton the Elephant in Seusical the Musical, and Enoch Snow in Carousel. A classically trained tenor, George has sung with Connecticut Opera, CONCORA, and other professional ensembles and Opera companies.

Brandon Maurois originally from Monroe, Connecticut. He currently resides in New Haven where he is studying Theatre at Southern Connecticut State University. Previous credits include Hanschen, Spring Awakening, Albert Peterson, Bye Bye Birdie, Beethoven, Dog Sees God, Duke Orsino, William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, and Chuck Cranston, Footloose. Brandon has also stage-managed various theatrical productions including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Old Saybrook High School), Street Scene (SCSU), and Dead Man’s Cell Phone (SCSU). This is his first time working with the Ivoryton Playhouse and he could not be more excited.

Female Ensemble:

Julianna Alvordis very excited to be returning to Ivoryton where she first appeared in Barnum. Other shows include Salem Towne ,The Kate, Into theWoods Jr. ,JWMS, Titanic, VRHS, Ahavah, CAD, and The Little Mermaid, Missoula Children’s Theater. Julianna attends Valley Regional High School where she is a member of the All-State gymnastics team.

Mackensie Peluso is 9 years old and is in the fourth grade at Ledyard Center School. Mackenzie is also a member of Broadway Kids and Company where she takes jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, acting and voice lessons. Mackenzie has been in several productions for BKC including: The Music Man (ensemble), Hairspray (ensemble), Annie (Molly), Christmas Carole (Tiny Tim) and Crazy for You (ensemble). Mackenzie is also a member of the BKC junior dance team and has competed in several competitions. She has also performed with the Stanley Whitman House Players The Witch Trail of Mary Barnes.

Elizabeth Proteau is thrilled to be part of her first Playhouse show, Oliver, this summer. Her very first performance in 2009 was Sarah Brown in Guys AndDolls. Since then she has participated in Valley Regional Music Productions all four years, and was an enthusiastic and dedicated ensemble member in Beauty And The Beast, as a wolf and napkin, Sound Of Music as a Nun and Villager and Chitty The Musical as the Turkey Farmer. Her latest role was Kate Mullins in Titanic, which was The Production of the Year in the Connecticut High School musical Theatre Awards. She will be starting her educational path at MCC to study Music Performance and Education.

Samantha Lane Talmadge received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance in May 2009 from Yale University School of Music. Samantha is on the voice faculty of Connecticut College, Thames Valley, and Community Music School. She recently completed a series of engagements with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra as the soprano soloist in Barber’s Knoxville, Summer of 1915 and was also a soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, with the New Britain Symphony Orchestra. Samantha played Micäela in Peter Brook’s Tragedy of Carmen at the Alba Music Festival in Italy and appeared in various roles with Orchestra Verdi in Milan, Italy, as well. She has received vocal honors as a National Opera Association Vocal Competition finalist in 2003/2004, and was a finalist in Birmingham Opera’s Vocal Competition in May, 2009. Samantha has been a regular performer in Connecticut, and with professional companies such as Musica Romantica, Chatter Chamber Ensemble, and Teatro Nuevo Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She sang with the Santa Fe Opera’s outreach program in Donizetti’s The Nightbell, and has also performed with the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra as the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem. She is thrilled to be appearing in Ivoryton Playhouse’s production of Oliver.

Directed by: R. Bruce Connelly

Musical Director: John Sebastian DeNicola

Choreographer: Kelly Shook

Stage Manager: T. Rick Jones *

Assistant Stage Manager: Michael McDermott *

Set Design: Cully Long

Lighting Design: Doug Harry

Costume Design: LisaMarie Harry

Hair Designer: Joel Silvestro

* member of Actors Equity

Friday, August 10th: Join us for an opening night reception with the cast after the 8:00pm performance. Light refreshments will be served.

Join Us for Three Fabulous Tent Events – Wednesday in August: August 15th, 22nd and 29th:6:30pm prior to 7:30pm performance of Oliver!

A different restaurant or local caterer will be featured each week. Enjoy music and wine as well! List of vendors who will be providing nibbles will be available soon. Our thanks to Shore Discount Liquors for supplying wine. Red Hot Summer events are sponsored by Guilford Savings Bank.

Photos courtesy of Anne Hudson

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Watch this amazing video of Set Designer Cully Long creating the backdrop for Oliver!

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Press Release – 07/30/12

Neal Mayer makes his transformation into Fagin for "Oliver!" at the Ivoryton Playhouse. Tyler Felson, who plays Oliver, and Nathan Russo, who plays The Artful Dodger, look on.

No sooner had the curtain gone down on the final moments of Ivoryton’s smash hit HAIRSPRAY, than Neal Mayer was dropping Wilbur’s Hawaiian shirts in the laundry basket and doffing the rags and tatters of that lovable villain, Fagin. In just 10 short days, OLIVER! will open and the transformation will be complete – goodbye Baltimore and hello London!

Neal has spent his life in the theatre so transformation and quick change are as natural to him as getting up for work in the morning. He has played characters as different as Claquesous in LES MISERABLES on Broadway and Mandy Patinkin in FORBIDDEN BROADWAY. Neal is thrilled to return to the Ivoryton Playhouse where he previously appeared as Harding in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest. And if you are driving through town, you may catch Neal in his yellow cycling gear on his bike, enjoying exploring our own beautiful corner of New England.

Don’t miss Neal and rest of Dickens’ motley crew in this all-time family favorite, OLIVER! Winner of 4 Tony awards for the original 1963 Broadway production, Lionel Bart’s sensational score includes Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, I’d Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah, As Long As He Needs Me and many more.

Directed by R. Bruce Connelly, choreography by Kelly Shook and musical direction by John DeNicola. The set design is by Cully Long, lighting design by Doug Harry, and costumes by LisaMarie Harry.

Oliver! opens in Ivoryton on August 8th and runs through September 2nd for 4 weeks. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org (Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.

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Press Release – 07/24/12

Consider Yourself One Of Us –Oliver!at The Ivoryton Playhouse

Ivoryton: With the opening of the 2012 Olympics in London and 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, it’s definitely the summer to celebrate all things British – so goodbye Baltimore and hello London as the Ivoryton Playhouse opens the classic musical OLIVER! on August 8th.

Bringing vividly to life Dickens’ timeless characters with its ever-popular story of the boy who asked for more, Lionel Bart’s sensational score includes Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You’ve Got to Pick-a-Pocket or Two, I’d Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah, As Long As He Needs Me and many more.

Don’t deny yourself the small pleasure of seeing Oliver!, one of the most beloved British musicals ever. Winner of 4 Tony awards for the original 1963 Broadway production, this is a show that never grows old.

Cast includes Neal Mayer*, who was recently seen as Wilbur in Hairspray, as Fagin; and Kimberly Morgan*, who made her Playhouse debut as one of the Dynamites also in Hairspray, as Nancy. The cast also includes local talent – Tyler Felson as Oliver and Nathan J. Russo as the Artful Dodger and many more.

Directed by R. Bruce Connelly, choreography by Kelly Shook and musical direction by John DeNicola. The set design is by Cully Long, lighting design by Doug Harry, and costumes by LisaMarie Harry.

Oliver! opens in Ivoryton on August 8th and runs through September 2nd for 4 weeks. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at http://www.ivorytonplayhouse.org/ (Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.

Members of the press are welcome at any performance. Please call ahead for tickets.

*member of Actors Equity

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Did YouKnow

"Please, Sir, I want some more."
Why would Oliver need to ask for more? What was the diet of the orphans in the Parish workhouse?
"All poor people should have the alternative of being starved by a gradual process in the house, or by a quick one out of it. ...(The Members of the Board) periodically supplied small quantities of oatmeal; and issued three meals of thin gruel a day, with an onion twice a week, and half a roll on Sundays."
Even so, the system was "rather expensive at first, in consequence of the increase in the undertaker's bill, and the necessity of taking in the clothes of the paupers, which fluttered loosely on their wasted forms. But the number of the workhouse inmates got thin as well as the paupers; and the board were in ecstasy."